Egg hatcher



Nov. 11, 1930. L. A. MARSHALL 1,781,336

EGG HATCHER Filed Jan. 28. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 l7 l9 jnucnfoz Luzilwflillfanshzub Nov. 11, 1930. A. MARSHALL EGG HATGHER Filed Jan. 28. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 11, 1930. L. A. MARSHALL' 1,781,336

EGG HATCHER Filed Jan. 28. 1927 5 Sheets Sheer 3 Patented New. M, 1930 EGG HATCHM,

Application filed January 2 8, 1927. Serial Ito. ieaaoa.

This invention is an egg hatcher, andone object of the invention is to provide a hatcher or incubator which has a positive draft, like the draft in a stove.

5 Another object of the invention is to provide novel means whereby a thorough min tureof fresh air, hot air, and moisture may be obtained, with as much regularity and efficiency, as a mixture is obtainedby a carburetor in an internal combustion engine.

Another object of the invention is so to construct the fans relatively to each other that there will be a draft endwise in the easing, as well as sidewisetherein, there being no dead air pockets at the ends of the casing.

It is within the province of thedisclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the invention appertains. 2o With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described andclairned, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings Figure 1 shows in vertical longitudinal section, a device constructed in accordance with the invention, parts being in elevation;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section wherein parts remain in plan;

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section taken in a cuttin plane differing from the cutting plane in igure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing one of the racks;

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken through one of the racks and showing the links which connect the racks;

Figure 6 is a transverse section through the complete machine;

Figure 7 is a bottom plan showing the ballies;

Figure 8 is a plan showing one of the trays.

in carrying out the invention, there is provided a box-like casing 1. On its sides, the casing 1 has upper doors 2 and lower doors 3. Outlet manifolds 4 are provided and discharge through pipes 5, controlled by dampers 6, the manifolds 4 communicating, as at 7, with the casing 1, through the top of the casing, at points near to the corners of the casing, and at points intermediate the corners of the casing at the sides of the casing, an explanation which will be understood readily when Figures 3 and 6 are compared. Air inlet pipes 8 discharge through the top of the casing 1 along the longitudinal center of the casing, Figures 1 and 6 being noted at this point. In the air inlet pipes 8 there are dampers 9 carried by a shaft 10 connected at 11 to a thermostat 12 supplorted on a bracket 32 within the casmg a Partitions 14 extend between the ends of the casing 1, the partitions being spaced at their upper edges from the top of the casing 1, and at their lower edges from the bottom of the casing, the partitions 14 forming a central air passage 15. There are cleats 16 on the partitions 14:, intermediate the upper and lower edges of the partitions, the cleats 16 supporting platform sections 17 carrying end fans 18 and an intermediate fan 19, the fans 18 and 19 discharging downwardly through the platform sections 17. The airthrust of the intermediate fan 19 differs from the'air-thrust of the end fans 18,1neaning thereby that the intermediate fan will displace a greater volume of air than the end fans. Owing to the fact that the intermediate fan moves more air both lengthwise and crosswise of the casing 1 than do the end fans, a circulation of such a nature is created that the extreme ends, as well as the sides of the casing, are reached by the air, and better results in the way of incuba tion are brought about thus, than would be possible otherwise.

A heating means is located in the central air passage 15 below the platform 17, and this heating means may be of any desired sort. As shown, but not of necessity, the heating means 22 embodies pipe coils car ried by racks 24 mounted on supporting beams 23 secured to the partition 14 and projecting inwardly therefrom.

In order to regulate the draft and to procure a proper mixture of hot, cool and moist air, baffle plates 25 are provided, reinforcing strips 26 being located below the baffle plates 25, the bail'le plates extending beneath the supporting beams 23, as shown in Figure 6. Clamp bolts 27 are mounted in the reinforcing strips 26 and in the supporting beams 23, the clamp bolts passing through elongated transverse slots 28 in the baffle plates 25, the construction being such that the baffle plates 25 may be moved to ward and away from each other, and be held in adjusted positions, thereby to regulate the width of the throat 29 which exists between the inner edges of the baffle plates 25.

Vertical lines of rectangular racks 30 are located between the partitions 14 and the side walls of the casing 1, there being one vertical line of racks for each of the upper doors 2, the doors 2 giving access to the racks 30. The racks 30 have inwardly extended flanges 31, as shown in Figure 4, so as to support, removably, the incubating trays 40, each of the said trays 40 being provided with compartments 41, for the reception of eggs, one of the trays being shown in detail in Figure 8 of the drawings. At their corners, the racks 30 have parallel outstanding arms 34 which are shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, the arms being supplied with inverted key-hole slots 35. There are shafts 36 and 37 at the ends of the racks 30. The shafts 36 are journaled in the partitions 14, and the shafts 37 are journaled in the outer side walls of the casing 1. The shafts 37 of the lowermost racks 30 in each vertical line, are supplied with cranks 38 or the like. Links43 are provided and are supplied with headed studs 44 adapted to be received in the key-hole slots 35 in the arms 34 of the racks 31, so that when rocking movement is transmitted to the lowermost rack, through the instrumentality of the crank 38, the upper racks will be rocked also, it being possible, in this way, to shift the position of the racks 30, and with them the trays 40, as the process of incubation progresses.

The hatching trays 42 are removably mounted on fixed racks 45 in the bottom of the casing 1. As shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, the trays 42 extend inwardly toward the median plane of the casing, beyond the partitions 14. The balile plates 25 extend above the trays 42. The result is that the air moving downwardly through the central passage 15, first passes between the inner edges of the trays 42 and then upwardly through the foraminous bottoms 46 of the trays 42, the down being prevented from accumulating on the bottoms of the said trays.

In practical operation, air. is drawn inwardly through the pipes 8, under the governance of the dampers 9, which, in turn, are controlled by the thermostat Y 12. The air flows downwardly through the air passage 15 and moves through the throat 29 that exists between the inner edges of the baiile plates 25. The air then flows to the right and to the left in Figure 6, beneath the lower edges of the partitions 14, the air, having been heated by the means shown at 22, passing upwardly through the trays 42 and the trays 40 on the racks 30. Ultimately, the air passes out through the manifolds 4 by Way of the parts 7 and 5, the-dampers 6 being adjusted as desired.

It has been pointed out hereinbefore that the air thrust of the intermediate fan 19 differs from the air thrust of the end fans 18. Consequently, there is a circulation of air, not only to the right and to the left, and up wardly in Figure 6, as hereinbefore explained, but, as well, downwardly and to the right and to the left in Figure 1 of the drawings, and in Figure 3 of the drawings, there being, therefore, no dead air in the ends of the casing 1.

The construction of the trays 40 is such, owing to the provision of the compartments 41, that one or more eggs may be picked out at any time, the remaining eggs keeping their places in the trays.

Because the throat 29 of Figure 6 is provided, the fans 19, including the blades 21, and the fans 18, including the blades 20, do not shoot the air down on the floor of the incubator in three more-or-less distinct spots. Rather, the air is discharged downwardly in a current represented in width by the throat 29 of Figure 6, and in length by the bafiie plates 25 of Figure 1, it being observed that these battle plates are co-extensive in length with the casing 1.

What is claimed is 1. In a device of the class described, a casing having longitudinally extended partitions defining an air passage spaced from the sides of the casing, means for creating a down-draft through the passage, baffles in the passage and defining a reduced throat through which the draft is discharged, egg holders located below the baffles and having a space between their inner edges, below the throat, and means for mounting the bafiles for adjustment, thereby to vary the width of the throat considered relatively to the space between the inner edges of the egg holders.

2. In a device of the class described, a casing having longitudinal partitions defining an air passage, means for creating a downdraft in the passage, trays in the casing and extended beneath the lower edges of the partitions, and baffles supported in the passage,

the baffles defining a throat through which trays, to prevent a down-draft through the trays.

3. In a device of the class described, a casing having longitudinal partitions defining an air passage spaced from the sides of the casing, the air passage being provided at its lower end with a reduced longitudinal opening, a platform constituting a closure for the space between the partitions, and disposed above the opening, downwardly discharging intermediate and end fans operating in the platform to create a down-draft in the passage and throu h the said reduced longitudinal openin and an up-draft between the partitions an the sides of the casin transversely of the casing, the interme iate fan displacing a greater volume of air than the end fans, thereby to create a circulation of air longitudinall of the casing.

In testimony t at I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my si ature.

' LUTHER A. MARSIEX LL. 

